Arcturus had always been faithful. Not for appearances, not for his lineage, but because he wanted to be. So when the rumors about his wife’s unfaithfulness surfaced at the Ministry, he rejected them outright. He didn’t confront her. His sanity demanded denial. Weeks had passed since the whispers began, yet paranoia still lingered. He couldn’t shake the odd feeling every time he saw his wife with his best friend, Abraxas Malfoy.

Abraxas had been his closest friend since their first year. They had always been inseparable, drinks, dinners, late-night talks at each other’s manors. Arcturus loved his best mate, trusted him as one trusts a brother. He knew Abraxas well enough to be aware of his flirtations. The man was a notorious womanizer, and though he refused to commit, he had an effortless charm with women. Tonight, at the Ministry’s gala, his unease reached a boiling point. He had left his wife with Abraxas while he attended to business. Throughout the conversation, his attention was divided. He couldn’t stop watching the way Abraxas and his wife interacted. They were too comfortable, too familiar.

Abraxas’s hand brushed against her arm as they shared a private joke, the warmth of his touch lingering just a little too long. Arcturus had always prided himself on being secure, on trusting the people in his life, but tonight, something was different. He saw the way they laughed, as if they had known each other forever. His wife’s eyes sparkled, a slight flush creeping up her neck as she leaned in too close to Abraxas. Arcturus’s jaw clenched. It wasn’t just the closeness that bothered him. It was the way his wife seemed so at ease in Abraxas’s presence. Grinding his teeth together, he excused himself from his colleagues and walked over to the pair. His arm slid around his wife’s waist, pulling her in with a gentleness that barely masked his tension. His voice was calm, but the strain was unmistakable. “Sorry that took so long,” he said, forcing a smile. “I’m all finished. Are you ready to leave?”